ヒマラヤ地域研究の動向と課題 : その人間地生態の把握と地域論の構築に向けて
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This paper is a review of Himalayan studies from the 1950s. The authors main concern is with the ecological analysis of people-environment relations at the local or micro scale, and the description of human geo-ecological history of the Himalayas at the macro scale.Modern Himalayan studies began in the 1950s with the opening up of mountaineering and tourism in Nepal. Until now, Nepal studies have been the center of Himalayan studies. Earlier important contributions, mainly by ethnologists, geologists, and geographers appeared in the 1950s and 1960s. Hindu-tribal relations and the Hinduization process were main concerns at this stage for most social scientists. Ecological or people-environment studies have greatly increased in the 1970s in accordance with the growing international interest in environmental issues. Though research trends after 1980 are various, the following three aspects are especially important. 1: The comparative study of Alps-Andes-Himalayan high mountains; 2: Ecological or environmental studies related to Erik Eckholms Himalayan environmental degradation theory; 3: Socio-political studies to explain why Nepalese or Indian Himalayan people suffer from development stagnation or environmental degradation. One other important trend related to this last point is the emergence of Bhutan studies.Though the Himalayas possesses an "anti-area" character, and its definition as a cultural area is still vague, we can see similarity or unity based on ecological conditions beyond the cultural or socio-political difference between Himalayan sections. Carl Trolls three-dimensional and multi-scale perspectives of Himalayan flora are also applicable in our area study for considering important future research themes. An emphasis on verticality (vertical zonation or vertical organization) and the popular cognition frame of the Himalayas as an Indo-Tibetan interface in the past seems to be valid since those perspectives can explain verticality and latitudinality (south to north effect) simultaneously. However, the climatic effect of landforms must be paid more attention in detailed comparative studies of verticality at the micro or meso scale. Cooperation with agriculturists will be oneway of participating in discussions of sustainable development in order to avoid inappropriate typologies of vertical organization or transhumance.Though discussion and knowledge on longitudinality (west to east effect) is almost nonexistent, studies in Bhutan, where ethnic, cultural, social, environmental, political conditions are totally different from Nepal, must be utilized for the discussion on longitudinality. The process of Hinduization or Nepalization which spread through the lower Himalayan foothills from west to east within the last few centuries must be studied as a comprehensive process in which immigration, environmental degradation, and socio-political conflicts eventuated. The other remarkable historical immigration flow seen in the Himalayas was that of Tibetans or Tibet-Burmese from north to south or from east to west until the 17th century. By combining both comprehensive processes, we might attain areal image of history of the Himalayan area.Most Japanese human geographers pay little attention to ecological studies. However, we need to appreciate the great contributions made in this field by western cultural anthropologists and geo-ecologists.
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- ヒマラヤ地域研究の動向と課題 : その人間地生態の把握と地域論の構築に向けて